title: Time-intensity relations in Békésy audiometry.
abstract: Threshold and amplitude measurements were made for fixed frequency Bekesy pure tones on subjects with normal hearing, sensorineural hearing impairment, and functional hearing loss. Following conventional Bekesy audiometry (intensity change 4 dB/sec), -20 dB was added to a signal at the threshold of audibility (bottom of the spike). When sensation was lost at the threshold of inaudibility (top of the spike), +20 dB was added. Adding +/- 20 dB in subjects with normal hearing reduced the amplitude of the spike about 4 dB, corresponding to 1 second, for both pulsed and continuous tones. Adding +/- 40 dB produced essentially similar findings. Adding +/- 20 dB in subjects with sensorineural loss with reduced amplitude of continuous tone tracings also reduced the amplitude approximately 4 dB for pulsed tones, but 3 dB, corresponding to 0.75 seconds, for continuous tones. Abnormal rapid adaptation may account for this reduced amplitude of the spikes. A subject with multiple sclerosis producing excessive abnormal adaptation showed spectacular increased amplitude for continuous tone only when -20 dB was added at bottoms and +20 dB at tops of spikes. An explanation based on slow adaptation is offered. Subjects with functional hearing loss may emphasize either time or intensity in their inappropriate responses when +/- 20 dB is added at tops and/or bottoms of spikes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Harbert
mesh_terms: D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D006315:Hearing Loss, Functional / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans